Metals and Metals Speciation

Eurofins specializes in the determination and characterization of trace metals in air, soil, water, sediments and tissues and has produced innovative and reliable analytical methods that are utilized around the world.

While analytical techniques for trace metals speciation have been around for over a decade, few laboratories possess the expertise to apply these techniques for various commercial applications. Eurofins has been providing elemental speciation analytical services since 1991 and has continued to create and implement several unique tools and applications for our clients. Our innovative analytical methods, combined with ultra-clean laboratory and sample-handling techniques, allow us to provide you with the lowest and most reliable reporting limits available, even in the most complicated samples.

Trace metals can be further differentiated from their total elemental composition into different redox species, organometallic compounds, complexes, or precipitates/minerals. This differentiation is the basis of metal speciation. Each species of a specific element has different chemical and physical properties sometimes with profound differences in mobility, bioavailability, and/or toxicity. Investigating the speciation of metals can provide valuable information on the toxicity and mobility of the trace metals to living organisms and troubleshooting metals removal from systems such as water treatment.

While analytical techniques for trace metals speciation have been around for over a decade, few laboratories possess the expertise to apply these techniques for various commercial applications. Eurofins has been providing elemental speciation analytical services since 1991 and has continued to create and implement several unique tools and applications for our clients.

Eurofins offers speciation in a variety of matrices using the following methods and techniques:

As Speciation (As3/As5)

EPA 1632

Methyl Mercury

EPA 1630

DiMethyl Mercury

EPA 1630 Mod

Elemental Mercury

EPA 1631 Mod

Inorganic Mercury

EPA 1631 Mod

Hg Selective Sequential Extraction (F0-F6)

EPA 1631 Mod

Hexavalent Chromium in Water

EPA 7196

Hexavalent Chromium in Water

SM3500-Cr

Other speciation via LC-ICPMS or LC-AFS including Se, As, V, Mo, Co

The most common speciation techniques that we perform are for arsenic, selenium and mercury speciation as outlined below. We have also developed applications to speciate other metals such as Chromium, Vanadium, Cobalt, Molybdenum, Antimony and Bismuth.